Pipe fitting with retained gasket sealing means



J. J. SMITH Aug. 4, 1959 PIPE FITTING WITH RETAINED GASKET SEALING MEANS Filed June-1, 1956 INVENTOR J OH N J. S M I T H FGZ.

2,897,224'2" PIPE FrmNG wrrn RETAINEU GASKET sEALINo MEANS John-I. Smith, Decatur, Ill.; assignor to Mueller C01, Decatur', Ill., a 'corporation of Illinois fppiic'atiox'i June 11; 1956', Sei-iai No; 5832701? 6 Claims. 13s-:62)

riffsinvennenfeiates to' pipe' cen'ectins and niet@ par: tieulfarly to' ay iittin'g having improved means? ther'e'n forv effecting a p'r'essureltiglrt seal Betti/een' the fitting and a pipop other cdit:

The present invention constitutes an improvement iii' th'e' pipe connection andsealing means" disclosed in' Patent; No'. 2,199,647 to" Mueller et al., datedMay 7, 1921-01V In that patent sealing member is disclosed f use with aii tti'n'g, which' sealing r'n'einl'nerl comprises a hollow ring?" shaped carrier ofi deformable' r'iiet'al and aA ring" of coin`` pressible" backing material in' the carrier. The packing ring and carrier' are" of substantial uniform'V an'n'ulaithickness or c'r'oss` section' andthe packing ring is arranged td be compressed in'to`pr'e'ssureltig'ht sealing engagement Wi'tl'r theV convex? exterior' surface of the' pi'p'e with a maximum compression at opposed` points extending longitudinally of theI pipeand amin'imum compression at opposed points extending'laterally ofthe pipe'. Thu's',s`ince' v` 11'r1'e"ve"n' ci' pressioniis applied to' t-hep'ackin'g ring, the seal is not as effective" as `it* could ber` if a uniforme pressure were' applied.-

There 'have been attempts to'overcome this disadvantage inrthe'selingf means' of the patent.; For example, Patent No? 2,481,481 to`r Smith; date'dSepte'r'nber` 6;- 1949, solvesr this pro'blem'by'i forming the packing ringA and'carer with' al concave' pipe engaging" surfafce' so' that' a* nait? member' on theftlat'upper" 'nd'of' the c' 'ri'er w'll uniformly" the packing ringi'to selig`en`g'agement-witli theI pip'e While this arrangement? eifectsr a uniformi sei'ililigfV coin: pression of the packing iring'; theco'r'istru'c 'ftlie pacieingf ring"l isy relatively expe'n'sivey as' c'`orn"pz'a.redt witlr one" whichA has a uniformi annular-*thickness or cros'ssecto'ni Accordingly; it'f is an object' off thep'rse'nti veritio, to provide aittingtf thetype described h'a1vir'1gf-'improved'- means for applying a uniform compressionito'fafsealing? ring'means of substantialfluniform' annular thickness'or cross;sectionlsoifasi-toobtairi the'advantage* i 'dtli ofI the anangementsindicated" above; white'A elniathg'l t'l'i'e disadvantages inherent? the'em Another object of the present invention is the provision of `a ii'tt'ingf having"selingl'ringmeans thereon suitable `f or formingl af pres' figlie @inaction between die effin-g and? thef pipe and unproiledmeansV forY applyingpres`sureI to' the seal' to move tli'esarne' intoV engagenieirt withitlief pipeso that the latter isuniforirily compressed "t'lrou'ghoutV its' annular'ex't'ent.

Still lanother object of the presentfinvention 'thepi'' visionof animera-vennen@ fer-*applying a uniform pressurelto alilt'f sealing"ringlmeansoffuniform annilatliiclness` o'i"-cros"s' sectio'rr'so*astdefoirn the'sam'efinto' cori'-4 fo'rlmity with thewb'nveirex'teior 'surface ofapip''or tlef like.

Af still further' objectL of the' present invention `isf tlil'e"A provisin ofa s'eli'ng"ringpressure-applyingmeans whiclj issirrrplei inV constriictioni `economical to manufacture easyt'ofoperate;`

2,897,842 Patented ug. 4, 1959 2 irire apparentduring the course of the following detailed description and appended clainis. T he invention may vbest be understood withreference to the' accompanying drawings wherein an illustrated embodiment is shown.

In' the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top p lan View, partly broken away, of a pipe having attached thereto a fitting embodying the principles of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure l with parts broken away for purposes of clearer illustration.

As set forth in the aforementioned Mueller et al. patent, a sealing means o f the type disclosed therein may be utilized with any type of fitting. ForV example, one of the principal uses of this type of sealing means i'sfor installing a` branch pipe from a main gras or water line', whichV branch pipe is to be controlled adjacent the main pipe' by a valve 4known as a corporation cock. This type if seal' has been effectivein making connections with the tliin zwall steelpipes, although, obviously it is not confined to conduit walls of any particular thickness or mateial. a seal between a pipev and any other type of fitting.

In regard, in the drawings, there' is shown a plug' fitting, generally indicated at I0. The plug 10 includes a body I2 having one' end 14 externally threaded for en-4 gaginent'- within a transversely extending Vaperture 15 foirired n' pipe 16'. Extending outwardly' from the pipe 1 6 adjacent tire' end 14' is' a cylindrical portion 18 which f orrrs4 the middle o'f the body 12. At the end of thex b'odyi` opposite from the threaded end 14 there may be provided suitable socket connections 20 for receiving an appropriate tool to effect insertion and removal of the plug from within the pipe. It will be understood, however, t hat the fitting may be attached to the pipe by any suitable means other than by threaded connection, if desited.

Mountedon the' cylindrical portion 18 o'f the body 1 2' is a sealing ringv mefnsg', generally indicated at 22, of

v nulus Stl'of th'e packing' ring,l and, hence, exposes the interior sealing" surfaces 26' and 28.4 The sealing ring rr'n'eans'A 22in'its` initial condition before being compressed intopr'es'suretight engagement withfthey pipe 16 is preferably in a flat condition and it will be noted that it has= a substantially uniform annularv thickness or a substantialu'niforin" cross-sectional configuration.

ln orderv to effect a uniform compression of the sealing"`rin`g`nean`s 22' into pressure-tight engagement between t'lie fitting portion 13v andthe convex exterior surface of the p ip'e'l, there'is provided bythe present invention av novel' pressure-applying means, generally indicated at 34.l Preferably, this means includes a follower ring 36 mounted' on the cylindrical portion 18 o f the fittingfor free longitudinal movement. That is, thelfollower ring may have translational movement along the axis of th cylindrical portion and, in' addition, it may be freely rotatableV about' the axis thereof. The follower ring is niad'eout' of a ilexiblel material, preferably a suitable metal', although it will be understood that plastic and other materials which have suitable flexing characteristics may be employed.

Extending" laterally outwardly from the end of the litbody 12 opposite from the end 14 is an annular flange 3,8. This flange has a plurality of circumferentiallyf'spced apertures "4'0 fornied' therein. it will be un- Obviously, Athe sealing means is effective to form" destood that any suitable number of apertures may be employed and, as shown, there are six such apertures equally spaced circumferentially around the flange. Each of the apertures 4f) is threaded to receive a longitudinally extending bolt 42. These bolts have their threaded ends arranged to engage the upper surface of the follower ring 36.

In operation, the fitting 10, before being attached to the pipe, has the fiat sealing ring means 22 mounted on the cylindrical portion thereof in substantially abutting relation to the fiange 3S with the bolts 42 fully retracted within the apertures liti. In this condition, the end 14 of the fitting is secured to the pipe 16 by engaging the threads in the suitably formed opening 15 in the pipe and then the same is tightened by means of a tool inserted in the sockets 20. After the fitting has been thus attached to the pipe, the pressure-applying means 34 may be actuated to move the sealing ring means 22 into conformed pressure-tight sealing engagement with the convex exterior surface of the pipe adjacent the fitting. This movement is effected by turning the bolts 42. It will be noted that the bolts disposed at opposed lateral points with respect to the pipe may be initially actuated to effect a flexing of the follower ring and deformation of the sealing ring means 22 so that the same will assume a curvature which conforms in shape generally to the shape of the convex exterior of the pipe. The remaining bolts may be turned to apply pressure to the follower ring and sealing ring means at points spaced intermediate the lateral extremities of the pipe and the longitudinal axis thereof. As shown in Figure 2, the series of bolts 42 may be turned to various depths so as to fiex and move the follower ring 36 into engagement with the sealing ring means 22 and, hence, the sealing surface 28 of the packing ring thereof, into er1- gagement with the exterior surface of the pipe. Since the follower ring is capable of flexing into a shape which substantially conforms with the shape of the convex exterior surface of the pipe, this engagement of the surface 28 with the pipe exterior can be accomplished by a substantially uniformly applied pressure throughout the entire annular extent of the packing ring. In this manner, an effective sealing engagement of the packingring with the pipe is insured around the entire fitting. Moreover, the sealing ring means 22 does not have a substantially greater amount of pressure applied to any one portion thereof. It will be noted that in its operative position, the follower ring 36 provides a sealing ring means engaging concave surface which generally conforms in shape to the shape of the convex exterior surface of the pipe. The sealing ring means 22 therebetween is uniformly deformed and has its surface 28 in sealing contact with an even pressure throughout. Of course, the surface 26 forms a seal against the cylindrical portion of the fitting to complete the job.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a joint, a pipe having a convex cylindrical exterior surface, a fitting having a portion secured to and extending outwardly from said pipe, sealing ring means of substantially uniform annular cross-section mounted on said portion and having one surface for engagement with the convex exterior surface of the pipe adjacent said fitting portion, follower means mounted on said portion adjacent the opposite surface of said scaling ring means for translational movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, and means carried by said fitting for moving said follower means into operative engagement with the opposite surface of said sealing ring means and hence the one surface thereof into pressure-tight sealing engagement with the exterior surface of said pipe, said follower means in operative engagement presenting a concave sealing ring means engaging surface conforming in shape generally to the shape of the convex exterior surface of said pipe so as to apply a substantially uniform pressure to the sealing ring means of uniform annular cross-section therebetween.

2. In a joint of the type described, a cylindrical pipe having a transversely extending opening therein, a fitting having a portion secured in said pipe opening and extending outwardly therefrom, normally fiat sealing ring means of substantially uniform annular cross-section mounted on said fitting and fiexed into substantially uniform pressure-tight engagement with the convex exterior surface of said pipe surrounding said opening, a normally fiat continuous ring of flexible material fiexed into engagement with the surface of said sealing ring means remote from said pipe surface in substantially parallel relation to the latter, and a plurality of threaded elements mounted on said fitting in circumferentially spaced relation about the longitudinal axis thereof in engagement with said ring retaining the latter in its position of fiexed engagement and hence said sealing ring means in its position of fiexed engagement on the convex exterior pipe surface with a substantially uniform pressure throughout.

3. In a joint, a pipe having a convex cylindrical exterior surface, a fitting having an end secured to said pipe and an adjacent cylindrical portion extending outwardly from the convex exterior surface of said pipe, a ring of compressible packing material mounted on said portion, said packing ring being of substantially uniform crosssection and having inner annular surfaces forming a seal between the exterior surface of said cylindrical portion and the adjacent exterior surface of said pipe, a hollow ring-shaped carrier of deformable metal surrounding said packing ring and substantially confining the outer annulus thereof, and means for applying a substantially uniform pressure to said packing ring to fiex the same and move the pipe-engaging surface thereof into conformed uniform pressure-tight sealing engagement with the convex exterior surface of said pipe, said pressure-applying means comprising a follower ring of fiexible material mounted on said portion adjacent said carrier, and a plurality of threaded elements mounted on said fitting for engagement with said follower ring, said threaded elements being positioned to ex said follower ring so that the carrier-engaging surface thereof will assume a concave shape generally conforming to the convex shape of the pipe exterior.

4. A joint, a pipe having a convex cylindrical exterior surface, a fitting as defined in claim 3, wherein said follower ring is normally fiat and is mounted on said fitting portion for free longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

5. A joint, a pipe having a convex cylindrical exterior surface, a fitting as defined in claim 3, wherein said fitting portion includes an annular fiange extending radially outwardly from the end thereof opposite said first-mentioned end, said annular fiange having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending apertures formed therein for threadably receiving said threaded elements.

6. A fitting comprising: a body having an end for s ecurement to a pipe; sealing ring means of substantially uniform cross-section, said body having a cylindrical portion adjacent said end receiving said sealing ring means, said sealing ring means having an inner annular sealing surface facing in the direction of said body end, and a transverse abutment surface facing in the opposite direcl tion; a follower ring of fiexible material mounted on said body portion and having a transverse abutment surface for engagement with the transverse abutment surface of said sealing ring means; and means for moving the entire follower ring in engagement with said sealing ring means in the direction of said body end and for moving diametrically opposed portions of the transverse abutment surface of said follower ring in engagement with said sealing ring means a distance greater than the distance of movement of diametrically opposed portions of the transverse abutment surface of said follower n'ng disposed approximately one quadrant out of phase with said irst mentioned diametrically opposed portions and for maintaining said follower ring against movement in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hanson Dec. 19, Pendleton June 9, Mueller et a1. May 7, Simpson Dec. 9, Smith Sept. 6, Smith July 3l, Moseley May 6, Merrill July 8, 

